Joseph stegeb



@with gist-rs stut @fitta 'JSEPH SITEGER, OFl NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent .N o. 73,764, dated'ianaary 28,' 1868.

IMPROVBD CAR-'STARTING APPARATUS.

@tigt dgemle turret tu hingen tettett aieut mit nuttig part if tige time.

TO NALL WI-IOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STEGER, of New York, 82 Beekman street, in the county and State of New York, have invented a; new and useful Improvement in Starting-Gear for Cars and Wagons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable thosey skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference boing had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the specication, in which drawing4 Figure I represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts. Y

This invention consists in a lever-'pawl which has its fulcrum on an eccentric wrist-pin secured in the side of a drum, or which is otherwise attached to a shaft on which is mounted a drum, from which a rope or chain extends to the traction-bar of the car or wagon, said vtraction-bar beingV permitted to slide in a longitudinal direction, in combination with a ratchet-wheel mounted on the axle or secured to one of the wheels, in such a manner that when the lever-pofwl is thrown in gear with said ratchet-wheel and a strain is exerted on the traction, bar, this strain is multiplied in proportion to the diiierencc between the radius ofthe drum on which the draughtchain or rope-winds, and the distance of the connection ofA the lever-pawl from the centre of its motion, and by these means a powerful and eifcctive starting-gear is obtained. if

A represents the truck-frame of a railroad-car or wagon, said truck-frame being supported by four, (more lor lcss,) wheelsB, which are mounted on axles, C. On each of these a'xles is secured a ratchet-wheel, D, one"Y i only being shown in the' drawing, which may either be mounted directly on the axles or rigidlyconnected to one or both wheels.v From each end of the truck extends a platform, E, and under this platform-is secured a shaft, F, on which is mounted a drum, Gr. From this drum extends a ropeor chain, a, one end of which is secured to the circumference of `the drum, whileits other end is attached to the traction-bar H, which is permitted to slide in a longitudinal direction, so that by pulling said traction-bar out, a partialy revolving motion is imparted'to the drum G and shaft F. From the side of the drum G projects-a wrist-pin, b, which forms the fulcrum for the lever-pawl I. If desired, said eccentric wrist-pin may be connected to the shaft F in'any other desirable manner. '.ihc inner or worling'end of the lcver-pawl I is subjected to the action of a spring, c, which has a tendency to raise the same clear of the circumference of the ratchet-wheel, and also to pull it back in the direction of the arrow 4marked thereonin iig. 2, while the other or tail end of said lever-pawl bears on a tiltinglever, J, which is subjected to the action of the foot-button d. This button is in convenient reach for the feet of the driver, and by depressing said button, the lever-pawl is thrown in gear with the teeth of the ratchetwheel. If a strain is exerted. on the traction-bar after thelever-pawl has been thrown in gear with the ratchetwheel, this strain is multiplied in proportion to the difference between the radiusof the drum G andthe distance-c ofthe wrist-pin b from the-centre of the shaft F, and the operation of starting the car or wagon is materially' facilitated. As soon as the strain on the traction-bar ceases, the lever-.paw-l is thrown out of gear with the ratchet-wheel and carried back to its original position by the action yofthe spring c ready for a new operation,

Instead of securing the lcver-pawl on the wrist-pin, it may be attached to one or more chains, which wind on'the shaft itself; or on a drum ofsmaller diameter than the drum G.

The chain or rope a is kept taut by a spring, e, which bearsfon the ti'action-bar H. This spring is comparatively weak, so that it allows thetractioii-bar to recedeby the 'actionot' the spring c, and at the same time the traction-bar is rendered yielding, so that when two cars run close against each other, the ends of the tractionbars, which 'form the buffers, will recede, and injury to these parts will be avoided.

The lcver-pawl I may also be provided with a projection or cam, f, which bears against a spring-arm, g, or against any suitable abutment, so that as soon as the traction-bar and pawl are drawn out, said pawl is automatically depressed and thrown in gear with the ratchet-wheel, and as thepawl recedes it rises again, and the entire gear operates without requiring any attention. l

What I claim as new, 4and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

, The springs c c, in combination with the traction-bar H, rope or chain a, leverpawl I, drum Gr, and ratchetwhcell), all constructed and operating substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

Thisspeciiication signed by me, this 2d day of Deccmber1867..

' JOSEPH STEGER.

Witnesses: I

W. HAUFF, GUsrAv BERG. 

